• 10 million Americans experience dual disorders of both chemical dependency and an emotional or psychiatric illness.

• Left untreated, children’s mental health problems can lead to social isolation, academic failure, substance abuse, juvenile justice involvement and even suicide.

• 40% of individuals with substance abuse problems display signs of a mental disorder prior to using.

• 59% of individuals with a lifetime history of drug abuse or dependence have a lifetime mental disorder.

• We know that stress is one of the most powerful triggers for relapses in addicted individuals, even after long periods of abstinence.

Addiction

Many people view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. Parents, teens, older adults, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior.

These myths have not only stereotyped those with drug-related problems, but also their families, their communities, and the health care professionals who work with them. Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. It is our goal to help the public replace its myths and long-held mistaken beliefs about drug abuse and addiction with scientific evidence that addiction is a chronic, relapsing, and treatable disease.

Addiction does begin with drug abuse when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just "a lot of drug use." Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this compulsive behavior.

A variety of approaches are used in treatment programs to help patients deal with these cravings and possibly avoid drug relapse. Research shows that addiction is clearly treatable. Through treatment that is tailored to individual needs, patients can learn to control their condition and live relatively normal lives.

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis can refer to any to illnesses that co-exist. However, dual diagnosis often refers to an individual that is diagnosed with chemical dependency, drug and alcohol issues, as well as, a mental disorder. Common mental illnesses that have accompanying substance use are bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and attention deficit disorder.

The “best” practice for treating people with co-existing mental illness and chemical dependency is to treat both simultaneously.

Why do mental disorders and substance abuse frequently co-exist?

Alcohol and other drugs is one of the ways that individuals try to mask the painful feelings that can come with mental illnesses before they get properly assessed, diagnosed, and treated.

A personal story! “In my life I have abused both drugs and alcohol to self-medicate my mental illness. I wanted to get rid of the pain and anguish I had always experienced. At age 49, I was finally properly diagnosed. I started taking the right medication and going to therapy, which addressed my issues, helped me cope and educated me about my illness. Being diagnosed with a mental illness was not the end of the road for me. It was the beginning of a new and healthier life filled with joy and hope. I deserved to feel better and so do you.”

Prevention

Generally Prevention activities are designed to enable people to develop the skills and strengths to avoid developing an alcohol, tobacco or drug problem. Most prevention activities are geared to youth. Some are geared toward families or improving the skills of parents such as Strengthening Families

Understanding drug abuse also helps in understanding how to prevent use in the first place. Results from prevention research have shown that comprehensive prevention programs that involve the family, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. It is necessary to keep sending the message that it is better to not start at all than to enter rehabilitation if addiction occurs.

Many activities and programs may be advertised as a prevention program that use what are referred to as “scare tactics”. These include the staging of accidents, showing films of accidents and accident victims, and similar activities. Research has clearly shown these activities do not have a long-term positive effect. While there may be a short-term positive result, it usually lasts no more than 6 weeks. Quality prevention activities are designed to be long lasting and for the participants to gain long-term skills.
The best activities and programs are those that are science based, with proven successful results. A full range of such programs is available locally at the Regional Prevention Center and on the Web at the Federal Government Substance Abuse Prevention site.

The most important factor in the prevention of any youth from using drugs (as well as alcohol and tobacco) is parental involvement. Two major facts stand out; the later a child begins to use or experiment with ATOD products the less likely they are to become addicted or develop a problem; and the greater degree of positive parental involvement there is the less likely the child is to develop a problem. These are certainly not guarantees, but are clear indicators of success.

Drug Prevention

Drug prevention seems like a phrase only a school-kid might hear. However, drug prevention applies to everyone. People of all ages -- children, teens, adults and older people -- are all at risk for becoming addicted to one or more substances, whether cocaine or alcohol, heroin or prescription drugs.

The best and most feasible way to put an end to the nation's drug problem is to begin at the source, with drug prevention. If you are already abusing drugs, we urge you to seek help immediately. If you know someone who is at risk for becoming addicted to drugs, you may want to share this drug prevention resource with him or her.

Relapse Prevention

After recovery from drug or alcohol abuse, the possibility of a relapse into bad behavior is an unpleasant, but present, reality. Relapse prevention, then, becomes essential for any recovering addict who wants to remain clean and sober.

"Relapse" is defined as returning to a specific behavior after a period of abstaining from that particular behavior; in recovery terms, it involves engaging in the behaviors that are part of alcoholism or drug abuse. Relapse prevention is the process by which recovering addicts learn to recognize and avoid these behaviors.

Relapse prevention tools will vary from person to person, just as the reasons for engaging in substance abuse are different for each addict. Perhaps arguing with a spouse, failing to study for an exam or procrastinating simple tasks triggered drug or alcohol-seeking behavior. Relapse prevention will help you stop yourself from engaging in these behaviors. Relapse prevention should also help you learn how to avoid them.

If relapse prevention is to be effective, recovering addicts must learn to recognize dangerous patterns that may cause old behaviors to resurface. Avoiding recreation and entertainment, overanalyzing situations, assigning blame, getting inadequate sleep or making major life changes in the first year of sobriety are all signs that you may be exposing yourself to dangerous situations.

Relapse prevention can help you make better choices, decisions that take you further from toxic behavior. The best way to engage in relapse prevention is to participate in community-support programs, such as 12-step groups or other outpatient counseling services with a group component.

If these forms of relapse prevention fail to deter you from dangerous behavior, you might consider moving to a sober-living facility, a necessary step in preventing the return to substance abuse. Gulf Coast Recovery effectively treats alcohol, drug and substance abuse, offering sober living facilities in a tranquil, oceanfront setting, making it an ideal facility for your relapse prevention program.

If you suspect that you or a loved one is in danger of relapsing into substance abuse, please contact The Mental Health Association of Northern KY today to find out more about your drug abuse treatment options.

Treatment

The first step on the road to recovery is recognition of the problem, but often this process is complicated by a lack of understanding about substance abuse and addiction or worse, denial. In these cases, what often promotes treatment are interventions by concerned friends and family. Treatment options vary accordingly to the individual’s motivation, the substance used, and their resources.

Treatment can have a profound effect not only on drug abusers, but on society as a whole by significantly improving social and psychological functioning, decreasing related criminality and violence, and reducing the spread of AIDS. It can also dramatically reduce the costs to society of drug abuse.

Tobacco Treatment:

The use of tobacco products is the number one health problem in this country and leads to many other physical health problems. Smoking cessation programs are available from your Doctor or programs are offered by local hospitals and the Health Department.

For someone who has used tobacco for a long time they are probably addicted to nicotine, and while some have quit on their own, most do not and need a program that includes nicotine withdrawal patches.

Alcohol and other Drug Treatment:

The very first step is to get a good medical assessment to determine the extent of any physical addiction to any substances. This is critical because a quick withdraw from even small amounts of certain substances can cause serious physical problems that need to be monitored.

Once a good assessment is completed a range of treatment options will be discussed. We will review these starting with the lowest level of seriousness.

Self Help Groups

Virtually all treatment will involve the individual going to a support group. The most common and well known are AA/NA (Alcohol Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous), however there are alternative science based programs available for those who feel that AA/NA is not right for them. These alternative programs include, Women for Sobriety, SMART Recovery, Life Ring Secular, and Rational Recovery. All science based proven effective methods. For more information on these groups please call the Mental Health Association of Northern KY at 859-431-1077.

Outpatient Treatment

Usually one or two sessions a week for about an hour each. Length of service depends on severity of problem and any related issues.

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

An intensive outpatient program is a structured program usually lasting 6 to 8 weeks. For the first few weeks a person will be in a program for 3 to 4 hours a day each day of the week. Intensity then lowers to a few days a week; then maybe 2 hours a day for 2 days a week toward the end. Each program will be structured a bit differently but combines individual, group and family sessions.

Day Treatment/ Day programs

These are more intensive, about 6 hours a day for 6 to 8 weeks. These involve individual, group, and family sessions. These programs allow the client to remain at home and at times even still work.

Medical De-Tox

This is usually a 3 to 7 day process where the individual will be in a hospital or facility monitored by medical staff. After the detox process the person will then be referred to another source of treatment.

Residential Treatment

Usually a 6 to 12 month program where the individual will actually be living at the facility as a resident. During this time they will be subjected to therapy that often involves one on one counseling, group therapy and support groups. This is usually recommended for clients that have a long history of abuse, or relapse.

In Kentucky, Medicaid will pay for medical de-tox services for all substances. Unfortunately Medicaid will not pay for all other out-patient counseling programs for anyone (except for a few populations such as pregnant women).

Contact us with your substance abuse questions and we will try to find you the best answer! Your question and our response may be added to this web site to help other people learn what they need to know for themselves or someone else they care about. Your name or other names you may mention will not be used. You will find other information on substance abuse throughout this site. Downloadable fact sheets can be found under Service/Information Referral page. Brief definitions can be found under Education/Defining Mental Health. Remember, only you and your health care provide can determine the quality of care that is appropriate for your need.